Author: HT Correspondent
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: September 27, 2001
Amidst increasing speculation about
divisions in the ruling NDA over India's role in the global war against
terrorism, the alliance partners today met to pledge total support to Prime
Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his government on the issue.
A resolution to this effect was
unanimously passed at the NDA meeting specially convened by the PM to dispel
the impression that there were sharp differences within the coalition on
the government's approach to the US-sponsored anti-terrorist campaign.
Vajpayee emphasised to the allies
the need for unity at "all levels of national life" at this hour and pointed
to the example set by the American people, who are fully supporting their
government in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks despite political
and other differences.
He also reportedly sought to quell
their apprehensions on issues such as India's offer of support to the US
against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and the Americans' growing proximity
to Pakistan. External Affairs and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh and Home
Minister L.K.Advani briefed the allies on the government's initiatives
on the foreign and domestic fronts.
During the meeting, the PM and his
ministers sought to impress upon the NDA leaders that they must not be
too concerned about matters like what immediate benefits India or other
countries may or may not derive from the situation.
Rather, he said, they must look
at the larger picture and bear in mind that so far India had been waging
a lone battle against terrorism. It was a welcome development that now
other nations, too, were joining the fight against the ultras, they were
told.
Jaswant Singh explained the diplomatic
initiatives being undertaken by India, and told the meeting that he would
embark on a visit to France, Germany and the US this week to hold consultations
and project his country's position and concerns on the issue.
He would also visit China later
as part of the exercise, NDA convenor George Fernandes told newspersons.
